The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-20
KING OF BABY KIsSERs.
The Greatest Effort in the Life of a PoP1-
lar Maryland Congressman.
New York Sum-

Cong eressman Lewis L. McCOmas, OF the
Sixth Maryland District, was noticeable
figure at the Gllsey House yesterday. he
has gained some reputation as a legislator,
but his chief title to fame rests on the fact
that be is the champion baby kisser south
of Mason and Dixon's line. He has, dur
ing his eight years in public life, reduced
baby kissing to fine art, and to his skill in
this art are mainly due his election and re-
election to Congress. Before Mr.. McComas
became the Republican standard bearer
eight years ago, the Sixth District had
gone regularly Democratic. Since that
time the Republicans have carried it.
Mr.. McComas did not invent baby-kiss-
ing as campaign art. Statesmen have
practiced it from the first days of the re-
public. But to him is due The honor of
bringing it to a state of perfection.
The average seeker Of votes goes about
kissing promiscuous babies with all the
hilarity which would mark his approach
to the dentists chair. He folds his hands
behind his back, closes his eyes, clinches
bis teeth, as If determined to die hard,
ducks his head, and, as a general thing,
bumps against the little ones nose and
raises howl.
Mr., McComas' modus operandi is as
different from this bungling as Nelson
Ter is from a schoolgirls daub. He goes
about the operation as If il were thing of
perennial Joy. No matter how dirty or
how sore-faced the baby, or how much it
scratches and squalls, he manages to throw
into the kiss an amount of tenderness that
is sure to win the parents hearts. Here is
the operation in detail, as testified to by
thousands of eye witnesses:
First of all, Mr.. McComas stands over
the baby, and beams on it with his large,
tender hazel eyes. Then, as if moved by
a sudden and irresistible impulse of affec-
ton, he snatches the little one to his
bosom with all the fervor of the deserted
stage mother. After kissing it for a mo-
ment with head bowed in emotion, he
holds IT in front of him in horizontal
position, beams once more on the little
face; then his head slowly descends, there
is an agoniziDg pause before the big mus.
tache reaches the little lips, the angels
lowering about suspend the Tapping of
their wings, long-drawn sigh of Joy pro-
ceeds from the Congressman's breast,
low, sweet, lingering, honey suggesting
smack is heard-and the deed is done.
The child is again pressed to the manly
bosom and the final move-perhaps the
most important of all-is made. Before
handing the baby back to its proud par
ents he gszes at it es if it were the most
precious thing in the world, and then fixes
his eyes on the parents with an expression
which, if translated into words, would
read: "And Just to think, you are the par
ents of this little angel How l do envy
youw
Occasionally Mr.. McComas adds a new
scene ito the act when the vote Of the
father of the baby is very doubtful. This
scene consists of walking slowly to the
door after the baby is deposited in the
cradle, and there, as if forced by an over
whelming food of affection, to rush back
to the little one and take final kiss. Any
one who has seen the Congressman per-
form this extra act must unhesitatingly
pronounce him one of the greatest actors
of the age.
That he had wonderful control of his
features Deed hardly be told. The dirtiest
mouth that ever adorned a baby can't
make him blink, The greatett test to
which this facial control was ever put oc-
CURED last October at the Frederick Coun-
ty Fair in Maryland, at the time Mr.. Nc
Comss wss having hard fight for re.elec-
tion to Congress, his opponent being Col.
Victor Baughman, perhaps the most popu-
lar Democrat in Maryland. The rivals, of
course, attended the Frederick fair and
settled down to day of hand-shaking and
baby-kissipg among the farmers. Both
seemed to meet with equal success. Nc
Comas had found f0eman worthy of his
steel.
Toward the end of the day. however, the
merits of the rival baby-kissers were put to
a terrible test. About the same time they
came upon farmer and his wife with a
baby whose hideons red face and sore lips
would deter the bravest of men from ap-
preaching it. Col. Baughman came up to
the group first, shook hands with the man,
said some sweet things to the woman, and
then glanced at the caricature of a baby.
As be did so perceptable shudder passed
over his strong frame. Several friends who
stood near him encouraged the brave Colo
mel with "Go it, Will" at won't last
longm and similar inspiring words.
Baughman did seem to grow insplrited, too,
for he took the child in his arms, and pre-
pared for the awful deed. BY this time a
large crowd had gathered, and In it were
many of Mr.. McComas' men, who were
willing to bet freely that Baughman would
not have the nerve to 60 through with the
task.
The Colonel glanced at the baby again
again he shuddered, and again q look of
determination came into his face. Finally
be closed his eyes, clinched his teeth, and
let his head fall-but alas before his lips
reached the upturned face the Colonel,
forced by that incomprehensible instinct,
which impels men to look upon the most
repulsive objects, took another glance at
the baby. This time it was too much for
him. He grew pale, trembled, and hand
ed the child back with an uncontrollable
expression of loathing.
Just then McComss came up, and the
crowd bent forward with breathless inter
est to see how the second knight would
bear himself in the arena. Boughman
stood near by, the most interested of all.
Bets of five to one that McComas wouldn't
| do it found few takers. The Congressman
first did the beaming act as usual, then the
pressing act, then the horizontal act but
here he grew pale, and q shade of terror
crept into his melting smile. Would he
succumb like hisrivsl2 Would he turn in
disgust from those sore lips on that early
tomato facet
Look He beams once more; his head
slowly descends in the usual way, there Is
the customary agonizing pause, and-ah,
yesl all honor to thee, bold McComasl
there is heard the long drawn out smack.
Victory The Republicans break into q
suppressed cheer. Baughman and his fol.
lowers retire discomfited. McComas HaE
elected TO Congress.
When the Congressman was asked by g
reporter yesterday how he got through the
ordeal, be said with wry face;
81 managed to kiss the baby-bui-er-
I'll be id il hankered after it,